Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines is opening up about her experiences of growing up bi-racial in her newest children's book, The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be. The mother of five and home renovation master tells the story of a group of children who come together to build their own hot air balloons in the new book, reinforcing the message that "no matter who you are, or where you are from, or how old you are, or what you look like, or who you love, or what the color of your skin is, or what you believe in—the world needs you."

Gaines celebrated the release of her new book by posting a totally adorable throwback picture of her when she was just a girl, writing, "The older I get, the more I realize how much time I spent believing the lie that who I was wasn’t good enough. I find myself fighting to get all of that time back—all of the moments I wasted hiding who I was by trying to be something I wasn’t."

"So as I sit here now, with years of living and learning behind me, I want so badly to go back in time to that little girl—a little girl who happens to be half Korean and shy and a little bit self-conscious—to tell her that not only is she good enough, but she is extraordinary," Gaines continued. "I want to go back and tell her to be kind to herself because the world needs exactly who she was made to be."

Related: Joanna Gaines Embracing The 'Rhythm Of The Season' Shows Moms' Strength

Gaines, whose mother is Korean and father Caucasian, revealed in a press release that she was often teased growing up over how she looked. “My mom is full Korean and my dad is Caucasian. Kids in kindergarten would make fun of me for being Asian, and when you’re that age you don’t know really how to process that; the way you take that is, ‘Who I am isn’t good enough.” Fast forward to today and my Korean heritage is one of the things I’m most proud of.”

Gaines said she was inspired by her own five children to write this book, stating, "My hope is for each of them to know, deep in their bones, that who they are is good, and that the differences that they see in each other and in themselves are to be celebrated."

The book aims to show children that our differences are meant to be appreciated and celebrated and not something that divides us.  “You’re one of a kind, and it’s so clear to see: The world needs who you were made to be.”

The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be is currently available for order online and in select stores.

Read Next: Joanna Gaines Gets Her Kids Involved With Meal Planning & New Cookbook

Sources: Magnolia.com, Parade